Machine for inserting shirring-strings into bags



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented Sept. 24, 1895.

(No Model.)

F. H. SHERMAN 8v F. W. MGARDLB. MACHINE FOR INSERTIN'G SHIRRING STRINGS INTO BAGS. No. 546,940.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Sept. 24, 1895.

. e E @l @SN m.1\ D E T y S ENIIM SN SN d @Sm ...A lmd NW3. s Il Nwwn@ S mq wf/ m S ff SNN Nw s m S Q -III @SNN IDH. SHERMAN 8v P. W. 'MCARDLB MACHINE POR INSERTING SHIRNINGl STRINGS INT0 BAGS. No. 546,940.

(N0 Model.)

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

"F. H. SHERMAN 8v PY W. MOARDLE. S MSGHINE POR INSBRTING SHIRRING STRINGS INT0 BAGS.

No. 546,940. Patented Sept. 24, 1895.

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(No Modell) 4 Sheets-Sheet'. 4. P. H. SHERMAN 8v P. W. MGARDLE. MAUHIN POR INSERTING SHIRRING STRINGS INTO BAGS.

Patented Sept.'24, 1895.

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FRANK H. SHERMAN AND FRED WV. MCARDLE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR INSERTING SHlRRlNG-STRINGS INTO BAGS.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,940, dated September 24, 1895.

Application filed uly ll, 1895. Serial No. 555,682. (No model.) l

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that we, FRANK I-l. SHERMAN and FRED W. MCARDLE, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Inserting Shirring-Strings into Bags, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the application of shirring-strings to the mouths or necks of bags composed of textile or other suitable material and designed to contain smokingtobacco, salt, or any other material or substances or articles, the shirring-strings serving when properly drawn or pulled to close the mouths or necks of the bags and thus retain the material or articles therein.

The chief object of our invention is to provide for applying shirring-strings to tobacco and other bags by mechanical means instead of manually or by hand, as is ordinarily the case,or during the weaving or manufacture of the bag, as has been heretofore proposed.

The invention also has for its object to provide simple and economical mechanical means for inserting shirring-strings through the mouths or necks of bags after the latter have been woven or otherwise manufactured, to provide n ovel means for inserting a shirringstring (one or more) through the mouth or neck of each bag, to provide novel means for feeding the string and severing it into pieces or sections of proper length to be inserted through a part of the bag mouth or neck, to provide novel means forinserting a shirringstring (one or more) into a part of the mouth or neck of a bag by the back-and-forth or reciprocatory movement ot' suitable needles, to provide novel means for holding the lbag stretched while the shirring-strings are introduced into or through the mouths or necks thereof, and to provide novel means for stringing bags which differ in size.

The invention comprises a pair of reciprocating needles adapted to pass through opposite sides of a part of the mouth or neck of a bag and to carry therethrough a cord or string, which then serves as ashirring-string to close the bag-mouth. The string is drawn from a spool or supply transversely across the machine into the path of the needles through the medium of a movable feed-arm having string-gripping fingers orspring-catches. The string is then severed to form a string-section of the proper length, and the needles advance and force the opposite end portions of the string into orthrough opposite sides of the bag, while the latter is held in a stretched condition on a holder, thereby placing the free end portions of the string-section into juxtaposition to one another, so that they can be drawn or pulled like the ordinarylshirringstringsof a bag for closing the latter whenever desired.

The invention involves the features of construction, the combination or arrangement of parts, and the principles of operation hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is asectional lside elevation of a bag-Stringing machine embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a broken top plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional perspective view showing the bag holder and stretcher, portions of the two reciprocatory needles, devices for expanding the bag-holder to stretch the bag, and two rotary piercers for piercing the bag at opposite points for the passage of the needles into the bag-mouth or into the fold ordinarily provided at the mouth of the bag. Fig. 5 is a broken perspective view of one of the needles. Fig. 6 is atop plan view of a portion ofthe table of the machine, showing the manner in which two sets of bagpiercers are employed and are susceptible of adjustment for applying strings to large or small bags. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view showing one end portion of the movable feed-arm, which serves to draw the string transversely of the machine across the path of the needles, and also the abutment or arm for opening the string-gripping fingers on the return stroke of the feed-arm. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional perspective view showing the cutters for severing the string and the devices for operating the movable member of the cutter; and Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view showing the tension device for holding the leading end of the string after the latter has been severed by the cutter to form a string-section, also showing one end portion of the movable feed-arm, which draws the IOO string across the p'ath of the needles, and the pivoted wedge-block, which serves to open the gripping-fingers for seizing the leading end ofthe string.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein- The numeral 1 indicates the main frame, which may be of any construction suitable for the purpose in hand and is provided with a horizontal table 2, from a part of which projects in a perpendicular plane a bag holder and stretcher composed of a stationary standard 3, a laterally-yielding standard 4, and an intermediate wedge-section 5, which forms part of a vertical bar 6, having rollers or studs 7 extending from one face thereof and arranged above and below a vertical slot 8 formed in the bar and through which the main shaft 9 extends. The laterally-yielding standard 4 of the bag holder and stretcher is pressed toward the standard 3 through the medium of a spring 10, or by any other means which will accomplish the same purpose.

rPhe bag to be provided with a shit-ring string or strings is designed to be placed upon the bag holder and stretcher, after which at the proper time in the operation of the machine the wedge-section 5 is moved downward by means of a cam or eccentric 12, secured to the main shaft 9 and acting upon the lowermost roller or stud 7. As the main shaft rotates, the cam or eccentric 12 will first act to press the intermediate wedge-section 5 downward and then upward by reason of the cam or eccentric acting alternately on the upper and lower studs or rollers 7. The bag is placed upon the holder and stretcher when the latter is contracted, and therefore when the wedge-section 5 is depressed the holder and stretcher. is expanded to stretch the bag and cause opposite sides thereof to lie approximately parallel in juxtaposition to the surface of the table 2. The main shaft 9 is provided at one end with a pulley 13, by which the shaft is rotated in any suitable manner, as by connections with a power-shaft.

The needles 14 and 15 for inserting the string into or through the mouth or neck of the bag or into and through the folded portion ordinarilyprovided at the mouth ofthe bag are composed of flattened metallic plates adapted to be reciprocated in a horizontal plane in suitable guides in the top portion of the table 2. The needles are separated such distance apart that they can pass along opposite sides of the bag holder and stretcher. The construction of each needle is best seen in Fig. 5, where it will be observed that the needle is provided near its pointed or rounded end with a slot 14, inclined in a direction away from the point or rounded end. The slots 14 are so constructed that they will catch the string lying across the path of the needles when the latter make their advance stroke. The needles are each constructed also with an inclined slot 15, arranged at some distance from the slot14 and adapted to engage a string on the return stroke of the needle. If the machine is intended to provide each bag with two shirring-strings, we will provide two spools of strings, as at 16, and the strings from these spools will be drawn transversely across the machine at opposite ends of the bag holder or stretcher, so that when the needles make their advance stroke a part of one of the strings will be inserted through the fold or mouth of the bag from one end of the bag holder and stretcher, and on the return stroke of the needles a part of the other string will be drawn through the fold or mouth of the bag from the opposite end of the bag holder and stretcher, thereby providing the bag with two strings having the end portions, which are to be drawn or pulled to shirr the bag, arranged at opposite portions ofthe bag-mouth, as is usual in bags having two shirring-strings.

The outer ends of the needles are provided with heads 17, having slots 18 for the passage of a bolt 19, by which the heads 17 of the needles are secured to a lug 20, adapted to reciprocate in a slot formed in the table and projecting from a horizontal raekbar 2l, arranged at the under side of the table. The

slots 18 and heads 17 of the needles 14 and 15 enable the needles to be adjustably secured to the lug 20, through the medium of the bolt 19, in such manner that the needles can be adjusted in proper relation to one another and then firmly secured to the lug 20, so that when the latter is reciprocated the needles will be simultaneously reciprocatcd.

The slots 14 and 15 are overhung by stringguards 22 and The string-guards and 23 project in reverse directions, so that their free extremities or points lie toward one another and are some distance above the upper edge of the needles, so that when the string lies across the needles and the latter are given their return stroke the string cannot engage the slots 15, as the string-guards 23 prevent the string engaging said slot 15; but the string can pass under the string-guard 22, so that on the advance stroke of the needles the string will then engage the inclined slots 14, and the string will be forced through the mouth ofthe bag, one needle passing into the bag at one side of the bag holder and stretcher and the other needle into the mouth of the bag at the opposite side of thebag holder and stretcher. As the pointed or rounded ends pass under the second string lying near the movable section 4 of the bag holder and stretcher, the said string will pass over the slot 14 by reason of the string-guard 22, but will pass under the string-guard 23, so that when the return stroke of the needles occurs the string lying under the string-guard 235 will engage the slot 15 and be drawn through the bag-mouth, thereby providing the bagmouth with two strings, which are inserted from opposite ends of the bag holder and IIC IZO

stretcher, one string being inserted by the advance stroke of the needles and the other string being inserted by the return stroke of the needles.

If the machine is to be used to provide each bag-mouth with two strings, the strings from the two spools will be laid transversely across the machine, as hereinafter explained, at opposite ends of' the bag holder and stretcher, so that one string, as at 24, Fig. 2, lies near the stationary standard 3, while the other string will lie near the movable standard 4. The strings are adapted to be seized and drawn or fed transversely across the machine and across the path of the needles through the medium of vibrating feed-arms 25 and 26, which are pivoted to the frame of the machine, as at 27 and 28. The feed-arms are provided at their pivoted end portions with segmental gears 29 and 30, which engage toothed segments 3l and 32, which are pivoted, as at 33 and 34, to parts of the main frame and extend in opposite directions from these pivots, so that one toothsegment 3l engages the segmental gear 29, while the other toothed segment 32 engages the segmental gear 30. The pivoted toothed segments 3l and 32 are pivotally attached, as at 35 and 36, to the lower ends of links 37 and 38, having at their upper ends pairs of studs or rollers 39 and 40, the rolls or studs 39 bearing against the periphery of a cam or eccentric 4l,secured to the main shaft 9, while the rolls or studs 40 bear against the periphery of a cam or eccentric 42, also secured to the main shaft 9. The cams or eccentrics 4l and 42 are arranged alternately, so that they alternately operate to raise and lower the toothed segments 3l and 32, thereby oscillating the segmental gears 29 and 30 and vibrating the feedarms 25 and 26.

The free end vportion of each feed-arm is provided with gripping fingers or springcatches 43 and 44, adapted to grip or catch the string and draw or pull the same across the table. The gripping-fingers or springcatches 43 and 44 may be of any construction, so that they can be opened to place them in position to grip the string and subsequently close upon the string and then be again opened to release the string, as will hereinafter appear. In the construction of the gripping-fingers or springcatches illustrated in the drawings the member 43 is pivoted to the member 44 centrally between the upper and lower ends thereof, as will be best seen by reference to Fig. 7, so that the upper end portion of the member 43 can be acted upon to move its gripping end portion away from the gripping end portion of the gripping-finger or spring-catch 44 to place the two gripping-tingers orspring-catches in position to permit the entrance of the string between the two fingers or catches.

The spools 16 are hung in suitable holders secured to the main frame l, as in Fig. 2. Inasmuch as the action of both feed-arms 25 and 26 are the same adescription of the action of one is deemed sufficient for both, andl therefore ywe will here simply explain in detail the manner of leading the string from one spool, taking the spool 16 at the right-hand side of Fig. 2. The string from this spool is passed through a guide 46, and thence around a stud or post 47 under a tension device and string-holder consisting of a leaf-spring 48, adapted to be pressed with greater or less force against the string through the medium of a set-screw 49. The tension -spring 48 presses the string upon a Hat smooth plate 50, Fig. 9, and from this plate 50 the string passes over a rest-plate 5l, between which and the plate 50 there is a space sufficient to permit the gripping-fingers or spring-catches 43 and 44 of the feed-arm 25 to move down and grip the string for drawing or pulling, and thus feeding the same across the table, as shown in Fig. 2. After the string has been drawn across the table by the feed-arm, as above eX- plained, the string is severed into a section of proper length to be inserted through the mouth of the bag or through the fold provided at the mouth of the bag.

The cutter for severing the string is composed of two members or sections 52 and 53. The section ormember 52 is stationary, while the section 53 is movable and constitutes a part of one arm 54 of a bell-crank lever, the other arm 55 of which lever lies in the path of a cam 56, secured to the main shaft 9. The bell-crank lever is mounted at its angle on a suitable pivot-pin 57, secured to the frame of the machine, the construction being such that as the main shaft 9 rotates the bellcrank lever is vibrated at recurring intervals, thereby severing the string. After the string has been severed the leading end of the string from the spool is held by the tension-spring 48. Thus the spring not only acts as a tension device for the string, but when the string is severed, which is done before the feed-arm catches the string for the next bag, the string invariably springs back, and unless it is confined close to the point where the feed-arm catches it it will not be caught when the arm comes over for that purpose. Therefore we provide the tension-spring 48 in such form that it not only acts as a tension-spring, but also serves to hold the leading end of the string from the spool in position to be gripped or caught by the gripping fingers or catches of the feed-arm 25 each time the latter moves over after the string has been severed and the severed part has been inserted into the bagmouth.

When the machine is to be used with two feed-arms 25 and 26 to apply two shirringstrings to each bag, we duplicate the cutting mechanism above described, as indicated by the reference-numerals 53, 54, 55a, 56a, and 57a, Fig. l.

The Iingers or catches 43 and 44 can be opened as the feed-arm 25 moves over to engage the string, and subsequently closed to grip the string after thelatteris in the proper ICO position between the gripping fingers or spring-catches. To accomplish this we provide an inclined or wedge-shaped block 58, pivoted, as at 59, to an upright bracket G0, rising from the table 2. The wedge-shaped block 5S is formed with an inclined face 5S, so that as the feed-arm 25 moves over to seize the leading end of the string, preparatory to drawing or pulling and thus feeding the string across the path of the needles, the inclined face 5S of the wedge-block 5S acts upon the upper end of the member 43 of the gripping fingers or catches, thereby opening the gripping ends ofthe fingers or catches and holding them open until the grippingfingers have passed over the string, when the continued downward movement of the free end of the feed-arm 25 causes the upper end of the member 43 of the gripping tingers or catches to pass oit of the inclined face 5S of the wedge-block 5S, whereupon the gripping ends of the lingers or catches snap together and grip the string at a point in juxtaposition to the rest 5l, or at a point between the plate 50 and rest 51, as shown in Fig. 9. On the return stroke of the feed-arm 25 the upper portion of the gripping-fingers or spring-catches pass beneath the wedgeblock 5S, and as the latter is free to swing vertically the grippinglingers or springcatches will raise the wedge 58 ou its pivotl 59, so that the wedge will not interfere with the return movement of the feed-arm 25 and will not act upon the gripping-fingers or springcatches to open them. Vhcn the feed-arm 25 has effected its return stroke, as shown in full lines, Fig. 3, the upper end of the member 43 of the gripping-fingers or spring-catches will be acted upon by an abutment, as at 58, (sec Fig. 3,) arranged opposite the wedgeblock 5S in such manner that the grippingfingers or spring-catches are automatically opened to release the end of the string. string is then severed by the members 52 and 53 of the cutting mechanism and the needles make their advance stroke to insert the severed section of the string into the mouth ot the bag or into the usual fold provided at the mouth of the bag. In orderthat the needle may easily enter the material at the mouth of the bag, or enter the fold provided at the mouth of the bag, we provide piercers GO, arranged opposite one another, as shown in Fig. 4, and adapted to turn or rotate, so that prior to the advance movement of the needles the piercers will make incisions in opposite portions of the bag-mouth, into which incisions the pointed or rounded front ends of the needles readily enter when the needles make their advance stroke. The piercers 69 are adjustably secured by screws to blocks Gl, mounted 011 the upper ends of spindles 62, having at their lower ends gearwheels 63. One of the gear-wheels (53 engages a gear-wheel 6st, adapted to be acted upon by a segment-gear 65, provided on one arm 6G The with a bell-crank lever, the other arm 67 of which carries a roll 68, adapted to be operated upon by a face-cam 69. The rollGS is heldin contact with the face-cam 69 through the medium of a spring 70, so that after the elevation forming the face-cam has moved the arm G7 of the bell-crank lever in one direction to turn the gear-wheel Get and the roll GS descends or leaves the elevation forming the face-cam the spring 70 pulls the roll 68 against the plain surface of the disk having the face-cam and swings the arm G7 of the bell-crank in the opposite direction, thereby turning the gear-wheel 64,` in the opposite direction. By this means an oscillatory motion is imparted to the piercers 60.

As shown in Fig. 6, a pair of secondary piercers GO are provided for the purpose of piercing the bag at the end of the bag holder or stretcher opposite the end thereof where the piercers 60 are located. The piercers GO can be adjusted toward and from the piercers G0 by mounting their spindles 7l in boxes 72, adapted to move back and forth in slots 73, formed in the table 2. The boxes 72 can be moved back and forth through the medium of adjusting-screws 74. The spindles 7l are geared together by gear-wheels 75, and one of the gear-wheels meshes into a gear-wheel 7G, driven by the gear-wheel 64 and having its spindle or shaft 77 mountedin a box 78, which is adjustable in a curved slot 79, formed in the table 2 and struck from the center of the shaft of the gear-wheel G4. The box 78 can be hold in any adjusted position by a screw 80. The adjustment of the parts described renders it possible to apply strings to bags which vary greatly in size.

The piercers 60 are designed to make incisions in the bag at the points where the points or rounded front ends of the needles emerge from the bag in their advance stroke.

The rack 21. moves in a guide under the table 2 and is reciprocated to correspondingly reciprocate the needles through the medium IOO IIO

of a large segment 72, mounted on a shaft 73 and having a second smaller segment 74E, which engages a rack 75 on a reciprocating bar 7G, moving in a guide 77 on the main frame. The inner end of the bar 76 is provided with a roll or stud 7S, which is pressed against the edge or periphery of a cam or eccentric 79, secured to the main shaft 9. The bar 76 is acted on by a spring SO, secured at one end to the bar and at the other end to the guide 77 in such manner that the spring constantly tends to press the roll or stud 78" toward and against the edge or periphery of the cam or eccentric 79. The cam or eccentric 79 when rotated forces the bar 76 in one direction, and the rack 75 acts on the segment 7e in such manner as to swing the segment 72 in the direction required to impart the return stroke to the needle. The spring SO forces the bar 76 in the opposite direction, and thus actuates the segments 74 to cause Igc the large segment '72a to impart the advance stroke to the needles, as will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 1.

As the inclined slots 14Ca and l52M in one needle are opposite corresponding slots in the other needle, it will be seen that the string is caught by both needles, and as the needles enter the bag the string is pressed against the end of the bag holder and stretcher. As the needles emerge from the bag in their advance stroke, the string draws out of the slots 14, and at the end of the advance stroke of the needles the string is free therefrom. The strings, drawn or pulled by the feed-arms, lie across the needles at a point between the ends of their strokes, and therefore each pair of slots catches the proper string.

In the operation of the machine the bags are placed one at a time on the bag holder and stretcher, the string having been fed and cut during the insertion of a string into a previous bag. The rotation of the main shaft 9 causes the cam or eccentric 12 to depress the intermediate Wedge-section 5, and thereby expand the bag holder and stretcher to stretch the bag and hold it taut. The two needles then advance, one at each side of the bag holder and stretcher, and the front ends of the needles enter the incisions made by the piercers 60. The section of the string lying at the right-hand end of the bag holder and stretcher is engaged by the needles and pressed about centrally between its ends against the bag, and the remaining portions are forced through the mouth of the bag or through the fold provided at the mouth until the free extremities of the string emerge through the incisions formed by the piercers 602. The return stroke of the needles then occurs, and if the machine is constructed to apply two strings to each bag the return stroke of the needles is made to draw the second string through the mouth of the bag from the end of the bag holder and stretcher opposite the end from which the first string Was introduced. The spool-guides, tension device, and feed-arm for the second string referred to operate in the same manner as those described with reference to the string 24. The slots 15a of the needles serve to engage and draw the second string through the bag mouth or through the fold provided at the bag-mouth, as hereinbefore described with reference to the insertion of the first string. If two strings are inserted in each bag, the ends of the two strings can be drawn or pulled to shirr and close the mouth of the bag in the usual manner.

We do not wish to be understood as connin g ourselves to the insertion of two strings in each bag, and therefore for the purposes of our invention the feed-arm 26, one of the spools 16, and parts co-operating with the feed-arm 26 to actuate the same and apply the second string can be dispensed with.

The piercers 60 and 60a rotate at the proper time and make incisions in the bag to facilitate the entrance and exit of the needles.

In Fig. 6 a bag is shown in section on the bag holder and stretcher, and the incisions are represented on a slightly-magnied scale.

The mechanism described and shown should in practice be so timed that all the movements will take place at recurring intervals or at the proper instant.

Our invention provides novel, simple, efficient, and economical mechanism for applying shirring-strings to the mouths or necks of bags of every description, particularly to such bags as are used for tobacco, salt, or other material.

The invention provides mechanical means for accomplishing a result heretofore accomplished manually, so far as we are aware, as regards completed bags.

It has been proposed to apply shirringstrings to bags during the process or method of Weaving or manufacturing the bag; but this has not been found economical or practicable, and We believe is not used to any extent.

In describing our invention we have used the term string as defining any cord or thread suitable for the purpose in hand.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim is 1. The combination with a bag-holding device, of needlemechanism for inserting a shirring string through a part of the mouth of a bag held by the bag-holder, and means for supplying the needle mechanism with string.

2. The combination with a bag-holder, of needle mechanism for inserting a string through the mouth of a bag held by the bagholder, means for supplying the needle-mechanism with string, and cutting mechanism for severing the string into sections of proper length to be inserted by the needle-mechanism into the bag-mouth.

3. The'combination with a bag-holder, of reciprocatory needles for simultaneously entering opposite sides of the mouth or neck of a bag supported by the bag-holder, and means for supplying the needles with string.

4f. The combination with a bag-holder, of tWo reciprocatory needles adapted to enter opposite sides of a part of the mouth of a bag supported by the bag-holder, means for supplying the needles with string, and cuttingmechanism for severing the string into sections of proper length to be inserted by the needles into the bag-mouth.

5. The combination of an expansible and retractible bag-holder, with' needle-mechanism for inserting a string into or through a part of the mouth of a bag supported by the bagholder.

6. The combination of a sectional, expansible bag-holder, with needle-mechanism for inserting astring into or through the month of a bag supported by the bag-holder, means for supplying the needle-mechanism with string, and cutting-mechanism forsevering the string into sections of proper length.

7. The combination with a suitable bagholder, of a pair of reciprocatory needles IOS IIO

adapted to enter opposite sides of a part of the mouth of a bag supported by the bag-holder, means for holding string, and a vibratory feedarm having devices to seize and draw or feed the string across the path of the needles, and mechanism for severing the string at the proper time.

S. The combination with a bag-holder, of needle-mechanism adapted to insert a string into or through a part of the mouth of a bag supported by the bag-holder, means for holdingstring,cutting-mechanism forseveringthe string, a device for holding the leading end of the severed string, and a movable feed-arm having means to engage the leading end of the string and draw or feed the latter into the path of the needle-mechanism.

9. The combination with bag-holding mechanism, of reciprocatory needles adapted to insert a string into or through a part of the mouth of a bag supported by the bag-holding mechanism, means for holding string, cuttingmechanism for severing the string into sections, means for holding the leading end of the string after the same has been severed, and means for seizing the leading end of the string and drawing or pulling the same into the path of the needles.

10. The combination of a bag-holder and stretcher, and means for actuating the same to stretch a bag after the latter has been placed upon the holder and stretcher, with needle-mechanism for inserting a shirring string into or through a part of the mouth of a bag supported by the bag-holder and stretcher.

1l. The combination with a bag-holder and stretcher, of reciprocatory needles adapted to move at opposite sides of the bag-holder for introducing a shirring string into or through a part of the month of a bag supported by the holder, piercers for piercing the bag at the points where the needles enter theilatter, means forholding string, string-feeding mechanism, and cutting mechanism for severing the string into sections of suitable length.

12. The combination of a pair of parallel needles which reciprocate in unison for inserting a shirring string into or through opposite sides of a part of the mouth of a bag, and means for placing string in the path of the needles.

13. rlhe combination in a bag-Stringing machine, of a sectional, expansible bag-holder, needle-mechanism for inserting string into or through a part of the mouth of a bag supported by the bag-holder, a vibratory feed-arm having devices for seizing the leading end ot'- a string and drawing or pulling the same across the path of the needlemechanism, cutting-mechanism for severing the string into sections of suitable length, and devices for causing the feed-arm to seize and release the string at the proper time.

14. The combination of a sectional, expansible bag-holder, a pairof reciprocatory needles adapted to pass along opposite sides of the bag-holder to insert a string into or through a part of the mouth of a bag supported by the bag-holder, mechanism for reciprocating the needles, means for supplying string, devices for feeding the string across the path of the needles, and cutting-inechanism for severing the string into sections ot suitable length.

15. The combination with a bag-holder, of needle-mechanism for inserting a shirring string into or through a part of the mouth of a bag supported by the bag-holder, piercers for piercing the bag at the points Where the needles are to enter the saine, string-feeding mechanism, and string-cutting mechanism.

16. The combination with a bag-holder, of reciprocatory needles adapted to insert a shirring string into or through a part of the mouth of a bag supported by the bag-holder, means for reciprocating the needles, piercers for piercing the bag at the points where the needles enter the same, a vibratory arm for drawing or pulling the string across the path of the needles, a cutting mechanism for severing the string into sections of suitable length, and a tension-device for keeping the string taut and holding the leading end thereof after the cutting-mechanism operates to sever the string.

17. The combination With a bag-holder, of reciprocatory needles, means for holding string, a pair of vibratory arms for seizing the string and drawing or pulling the same across the path of the needles at opposite ends of the bag-holder, and cutting-mechanisms for severing the string into sections of suitable length.

1S. The combination of a bag-holder, reciprocatory needles, string-feeding arms, cuttingmechanisms, tension devices, and means for reciprocating the needles and vibrating the feed-arms.

19. The combination with a bag-holder, of reciprocatory needles, a main-shaft, devices operated by the main-shaft for reciprocating the needles, means for holding string, a vibratory feed-arm for seizing the string and drawing or pulling the same across the path of the needles, and devices operated by the mainshaft for vibrating the feed-arm.

20. The combination With an adjustable bag-holder, needle-mechanism, and stringfeeding mechanism, of tWo pairs of bagpiercers arranged to pierce the bag at the points Where the needles pass through the bag, and mechanism for adjusting one pair of piercers toward and from the other pair.

21. The combination with a bag-holder, needlemechanism, means for holding string, and devices for reciprocating the needles, of a vibrating feed-arm having a segmental gear and provided with devices for seizing the string and drawing or pulling the same across the path of the needles, a pivoted, toothed segment engaging the segmental-gear,

IOO

a main-shaft, and devices actuated by the main-shaft for operating the toothed segment to vibrate the feed-arm.

22. The combination of needle mechanism for inserting a string into or through a part of the mouth of a bag, a vibrating feed-arm having grippingtingers for seizing the string and drawing or pulling the same across the path of the needles of the needlemechanism, and devices for automatically opening the gripping-fingers to seize and release the string at the proper intervals.

23. The combination of needle-mechanism for inserting a string into or through a part of the mouth of a bag, a vibrating feed-arm having gripping-fingers for seizing the string FRANK H. SHERMAN. FRED W. MGARDLE.

Witnesses:

ERNEST I. FOSTER, A. WELLARD GARDES'. 

